Artery stabilizing syringe conveyor

Abstract

An artery stabilizing syringe conveyor is provided for facilitating the insertion of the needle of a syringe into a targeted artery. A pair of stabilizer fingers holds the artery in place while a syringe (held by a syringe holder) is maneuvered down the slot of a housing structure which is connected to the stabilizer fingers. After sufficient blood is obtained, the technician is able to slide the syringe back up the slot, placing the needle within the protective walls of the housing for safety. A syringe lock holds the syringe in place. The blood receptacle component of the syringe may be separated from the device, leaving the needle locked within the housing for safety. An alternative embodiment provides a shaft, rather than a housing, to slidably retain the syringe holder, and a needle shield provides protection from the sharp tip of the needle.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A is a perspective view of the invention, with a syringe attached to the syringe holder and lowered within the housing so that the needle of the syringe is exposed past the artery stabilizer.

FIG. 1B is a transparent planar view of the device in FIG. 1A.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment with a detachable artery stabilizer.

FIG. 3A is an enlarged partial perspective view of an alternative syringe arm which utilizes a locking tooth which locks within a series of notches cut into the housing.

FIG. 3B is a lower perspective view showing how a syringe is attached to the needle holder part of the syringe holder.

FIG. 3C is an upper perspective view showing how a syringe is attached to the needle holder part of the syringe holder.

FIG. 4 is a transparent perspective view of an alternative needle holder.

FIG. 5A is a perspective view of an alternative syringe used in an alternative embodiment.

FIG. 5B is a perspective view of the alternative embodiment referred to in the description for FIG. 5A.

FIG. 6A is an upper perspective view of another alternative embodiment.

FIG. 6B is a lower perspective view of the embodiment in FIG. 6A

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of another alternative embodiment, including an exploded partial view of the syringe lock.

FIG. 8 is a slightly enlarged lower perspective view of another alternative embodiment which includes a removable gauze holder.

FIG. 9A is a perspective view of an alternative syringe conveyor utilizing a series of notches to lock in place the syringe arm and attached syringe holder.

FIG. 9B is an enlarged rear perspective view of the syringe arm connected to the syringe holder of the device shown in FIG. 9A.

FIG. 10 is an enlarged lower rear perspective view of an alternative artery stabilizer with each stabilizer finger situated within a track to allow adjustability of the distance between each finger.

Claims

1. An artery stabilizing syringe conveyor, comprising: an artery stabilizer for securing an artery of a patient while the needle of a syringe is inserted into said artery; anda syringe conveyor means connected to said artery stabilizer, for guiding said syringe along a straight pathway so that said needle enters and exits said artery along a consistent axis.

2. An artery stabilizing syringe conveyor, comprising: an artery stabilizer comprising a base and a pair of stabilizer fingers emanating from said base, each stabilizer finger comprising a bottom surface which contacts the skin of said patient above said artery and holds opposite sides of said artery when said artery stabilizer is pressed down above said artery; anda housing comprising a substantially rigid and transparent wall structure shaped to frame a slot through which said syringe may be maneuvered, said housing being sized to be held within the grasp of a technician's hand, said housing comprising a top end and a bottom end, said artery stabilizer being attached to said bottom end so that said slot positions said needle to enter into said artery between said stabilizer fingers and distal the tips of said fingers, to allow said needle to penetrate said artery where an augmented pulse is created by the pressure of said stabilizer fingers above said artery.

3. The device of claim 2 wherein said base of said artery stabilizer comprises a swivel hinge, for allowing said stabilizer fingers to swivel about the longitudinal axis of said slot, enabling said technician to alter the position of said housing while maintaining said stabilizer fingers fixedly over said artery, said base further comprising an aperture located substantially within the central axis of said swivel hinge, said aperture comprising an opening at least large enough for said needle to pass through it.

4. The device of claim 2 wherein at least part of said bottom surface of each stabilizer finger is angled relative to said slot, for retaining said slot over said artery at an appropriate angle when said artery stabilizer is properly pressed onto said skin above said artery, thereby providing for an appropriate and steady angle of needle passage into said artery.

5. The device of claim 2 wherein said artery stabilizer comprises a detachable connection to said housing.

6. The device of claim 2 further comprising an artery stabilizer adjustment track wherein said stabilizer fingers are set in a track which allows said technician to adjust the distance between said fingers to accommodate various sizes of arteries.

7. The device of claim 2 further comprising: a hypodermic needle, said needle comprising at least an elongated body with a top end, a bottom end with a beveled tip, and a hollow internal lumen through which blood may pass;a substantially transparent blood receptacle comprising at least one hollow blood-holding chamber for receiving and holding blood which passes through said needle, said blood receptacle comprising a top end and a bottom end, said bottom end being connected to said top end of said needle so that said blood-holding chamber is situated in fluid communication with the lumen at said top end of said needle;an access port located within said top end of said blood receptacle, said access port comprising an aperture through which the blood obtained within said blood receptacle may be accessed, said access port permitting passage of at least a blood analyzer access tube into said blood-holding chamber of said blood receptacle;a removable access port plug mounted over said access port, permitting said technician to selectively open or close said access port;an air vent which is gas permeable and liquid impermeable, said access port plug comprising a core which retains said air vent, said core comprising a top end and a bottom end whereby said air vent is exposed to the environment at said top end and exposed to the inside of said blood receptacle at said bottom end; anda syringe arm, attached to said blood receptacle and emanating from within said housing.

8. The device of claim 2 further comprising a syringe holder which comprises: a substantially transparent and rigid shell sized to fit slidably within said slot of said housing; anda needle holder which is attached to said shell and which securely retains the hub of a syringe needle while leaving the rest of said needle free of attachment or obstruction, said needle thereby retained by said syringe holder for conveyance axially up or down within said slot, said needle holder comprising a top end and a bottom end, the body of said needle emanating away from said bottom end when said needle hub is attached to said needle holder.

9. The device of claim 8 wherein said needle holder comprises a tapered core adapted to hold said needle hub, said core comprising a top end and a bottom end, said top end being of a larger bore than said bottom end, and when said needle hub is inserted into said core, enough of said needle hub protrudes from said top end to allow the needle adapter tip of a syringe to be connected to the exposed part of said needle hub.

10. The device of claim 8 wherein said bottom end of said needle holder comprises a needle adapter tip and said top end comprises a hub which mimics a standard syringe needle hub, for allowing said needle hub to be connected to said bottom end and a needle adapter tip of a syringe blood receptacle to be separately connected to said top end, said needle holder providing a sealed channel between the opening of said needle hub and the opening of said needle adapter tip of said blood receptacle when each is attached to said needle holder.

11. The device of claim 8 wherein said needle hub is molded to said needle holder, said hub molded so that enough of said hub is exposed past said top end of said needle holder to allow the blood receptacle barrel of a syringe to be connected to the exposed portion of said hub.

12. The device of claim 8 further comprising a syringe arm, which is attached to said syringe holder and which emanates from within said housing slot.

13. The device of claim 12 further comprising a syringe lock which renders said needle immobile within said housing slot, thereby preventing physical contact with the sharp tip of said needle and averting accidental injuries.

14. The device of claim 13 wherein: said housing further comprises a housing slit cut out within a section of said housing wall structure, said housing slit comprising a first side and a second side lengthwise, said housing slit defining an opening through which said syringe arm may protrude from within said housing slot; andsaid syringe arm protrudes past said slit from its point of attachment to said syringe holder, for access by said technician.

15. The device of claim 14 wherein: said syringe lock comprises a locking tooth incorporated on said syringe arm, said locking tooth comprising a protuberance capable of being engaged into a locking position along at least one section of said housing; andsaid housing further comprises at least one notch to receive and hold said locking tooth in place.

16. The device of claim 15 wherein said syringe arm bends from its point of attachment to said syringe holder to extend parallel to said housing.

17. The device of claim 16 further comprising a housing bridge which comprises a rigid and substantially transparent structure joining at least part of each side of said housing slit, for adding structural support to said housing by closing at least part of the gap within said housing created by said housing slit, said housing bridge being elevated compared to the rest of said housing to allow said syringe arm to pass beneath said housing bridge as said syringe arm is maneuvered within said housing.

18. The device of claim 17 wherein: said notch is located within said housing bridge;said syringe arm engages said locking tooth into said notch when said tooth and said notch are properly aligned; andsaid locking tooth disengages from within said notch when said technician appropriately maneuvers said syringe arm, thereby freeing said syringe arm for movement up or down said housing.

19. The device of claim 15 wherein: said housing further comprises a series of notches which are cut along a linear path within said housing near said housing slit; andsaid syringe arm further comprises a first end accessible to said technician and a second end where said locking tooth is disposed, whereby when said first end is released by said technician while said tooth is positioned within the boundaries of said series of notches, said tooth engages fixedly within one of the notches, and said tooth dislodges from within said notch when said technician appropriately presses on said first end, thereby freeing said syringe arm for movement up or down said housing, said series of notches providing multiple locations along said housing to securely retain said syringe arm.

20. An artery stabilizing syringe conveyor, comprising: an artery stabilizer comprising a base and a pair of stabilizer fingers emanating from said base, each stabilizer finger comprising a bottom surface which contacts the skin of said patient above said artery and holds opposite sides of said artery when said artery stabilizer is pressed down above said artery;a substantially rigid shaft attached to said artery stabilizer, for providing a straight pathway over which at least a syringe may be maneuvered, said shaft comprising a top end and a bottom end, said artery stabilizer being attached to said bottom end so that said shaft positions the needle of said syringe to enter into said artery between said stabilizer fingers and distal the tips of said fingers, to allow said needle to penetrate said artery where an augmented pulse is created by the pressure of said stabilizer fingers above said artery;a syringe holder comprising a mechanism for retaining a syringe;a syringe arm attached to said syringe holder, said syringe arm comprising a surface over which said technician may press at least one finger of said technician's hand to control the movement of said syringe holder up or down said shaft;a track integrated along a length of said shaft, said track slidably retaining said syringe holder; anda syringe lock which restrains said syringe holder within at least one locked position on said shaft.

21. The device of claim 20 wherein said syringe holder comprises a needle holder on which the hub of said needle can be connected, permitting the blood receptacle barrel of said syringe to be disconnected from said needle hub while said needle hub remains locked within said needle holder.

22. The device of claim 20 further comprising a needle shield attached to said bottom end of said shaft above said artery stabilizer, said needle shield covering at least the sharp tip of said needle while said needle is locked in place on said shaft by said syringe lock, thereby averting accidental injuries resulting from inadvertent physical contact with said sharp tip of said needle.

23. The device of claim 20 further comprising a finger-hold platform emanating from near said bottom end of said shaft, for enabling said technician to press down said artery stabilizer in order for said artery stabilizer to exert pressure over said artery during a needle insertion process.

24. The device of claim 23 further comprising: a gauze dressing member which is removably disposed beneath said finger-hold platform,said gauze dressing member comprising a gauze pad mounted on a gauze holder; anda gauze holder track integrated within said platform, for retaining said gauze holder.

25. The device of claim 20 wherein at least part of said bottom surface of each of said stabilizer fingers is angled relative to said shaft, for retaining said shaft over said artery at an appropriate angle when said artery stabilizer is properly pressed onto said skin above said artery, thereby providing for an appropriate and steady angle of needle passage into said artery during use.

26. The device of claim 20 further comprising an artery stabilizer adjustment track wherein said stabilizer fingers are set in a track which allows said technician to adjust the distance between said fingers to accommodate various sizes of arteries.

27. A method for inserting the needle of a syringe into an artery of a patient, using an artery stabilizing syringe conveyor, comprising the steps of: pressing down on said syringe conveyor so that the artery stabilizer of said syringe conveyor is pressed over a targeted artery, lodging at least part of the bottom surface of the stabilizer fingers of said artery stabilizer over each side of said artery, to stabilize said artery and to prepare said artery for the insertion of said needle therein;maneuvering the syringe arm of said syringe conveyor downward until said needle penetrates said artery distal and between the tips of said stabilizer fingers, and proximal the heart of said patient relative to the position of said stabilizer fingers, to access to the blood within said artery where an augmented pulse is created by the pressure of said stabilizer fingers above said artery; andholding said device in place to allow blood to fill the blood receptacle of said syringe.

28. The method of claim 27 further comprising the step of waiting for a sufficient amount of blood to fill said blood receptacle in order to obtain a sufficient sample, then raising said syringe arm to remove said needle from the insertion site, then dressing the wound caused by the needle insertion process, to stop the bleeding from said artery, and then raising said syringe arm sufficiently until the syringe lock of said syringe conveyor is activated, to render the sharp tip of said needle immobile within the needle protection of said syringe conveyor.

29. The method of claim 28 further comprising the step of removing said blood receptacle from the needle hub while said needle remains locked within the needle holder of said syringe conveyor, to separate said blood receptacle from the rest of the device.

30. The method of claim 27 further comprising the step of waiting for a sufficient amount of blood to fill said blood receptacle in order to obtain a sufficient sample, then releasing the pressure exerted by said artery stabilizer over said artery to minimize any augmentation of pulse pressure there, then raising said syringe arm to remove said needle from the insertion site, then dressing the wound caused by said needle in order to stop the bleeding from said artery, and then raising said syringe arm sufficiently until the syringe lock of said syringe conveyor is activated, to render the sharp tip of said needle immobile within the needle protection of said syringe conveyor.

31. The method of claim 27 further comprising the step of waiting for a sufficient amount of blood to fill said blood receptacle in order to obtain a sufficient sample, then applying pressure over said artery distal the insertion site to stop the blood flow there, then raising said syringe arm sufficiently until the sharp tip of said needle is situated within the needle protection of said syringe conveyor, then engaging the syringe lock of said syringe conveyor, to render the sharp tip of said needle immobile within said needle protection.

32. The method of claim 31 further comprising the step of placing the gauze member of said device over the wound, to stop bleeding from said wound, and then releasing said pressure from over said artery distal said insertion site.